But this traveling object was the only solar car in the American Solar Challenge's 10-day race to make it to Amarillo's Don Harrington Discovery Center on Wednesday, the leader of the 19-car race.

These cars are powered only by the solar rays they absorb through dozens of solar cells laid neatly across the aerodynamic tops of the vehicle.

University of Missouri-Rolla's solar car, Solar Miner IV, arrived at the center near 6 p.m. Wednesday. The car and team left should arrive in Barstow, Calif., on Wednesday.

Missouri-Rolla's driver, Neal Essner, a 19-year-old sophomore, emerged from the small bubble he sat in all day. The car's shape allows the driver to sit up only partially, with head propped up and body laying nearly flat. The car has no air conditioning, only an air vent. But Essner was not complaining, as he glided the car into town before the other 18 cars in the race. The others are expected to arrive throughout today, he said.

"It was nice," Essner said of his day's drive. "Nice and windy."

Getting Essner out took the work of many. More than eight of the university's 21-member team lifted the fragile top shell of the vehicle to let him out.

"It's great," he said with a smile. "We were first to the last media stop, too. I just hope to not have any problems and keep it up, and hopefully get another championship."